Tarbiat Modares University Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 1680-7073 14 7 2012 12 01 Characterization of an Indigenous Isolate, Dunaliella tertiolecta ABRIINW-G3, from Gavkhooni Salt Marsh in Iran Based on Molecular and Some Morpho-physiological Attributes 1579 1590 15191 EN N. Hosseinzadeh Gharajeh Branch of the Northwest and West region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Tabriz, Islamic Republic Iran. M. A. Hejazi Branch of the Northwest and West region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Tabriz, Islamic Republic Iran. S. Nazeri Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Islamic Republic Iran. Abolfazl Barzegari Branch of the Northwest and West region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Tabriz, Islamic Republic Iran. Journal Article <em>Dunaliella</em> is a green halotolerant microalga, which has several industrial applications e.g. β-carotene production. Identification of different <em>Dunaliella</em> species has been carried out by morpho-physiological and recently molecular studies. To achieve an improved understanding of taxonomy, these studies are required to be in linkage. The present study describes molecular and specific morpho-physiological properties of a <em>Dunaliella </em>isolate obtained from Gavkhooni salt marsh in Iran. Phylogenetic analysis of Internal Transcribed Spacer region demonstrated that the isolate was associated with different species except <em>D</em>.<em> salina </em>(CCAP 19/18 and 19/30) and <em>D.viridis</em>. 18S rDNA size of the isolate was identical to that of <em>D. tertiolecta</em> and intron-lacking strains of <em>D. salina</em>. 18S rDNA fingerprint profile and phylogenetic analysis revealed <em>D. tertiolecta</em> as the closest taxon to the isolate. Features of optimum growth salinity (1.5-3% w/v) and maximum carotenoid per cell (0.7 pg cell^-1) were comparable with reported data for <em>D. terrtiolecta</em>. Morphological characteristics including the size and color of the cells, presence and location of stigma and refractile granules were similar to those of <em>D. tertiolecta</em>. Totally, considering molecular and morpho-physiological properties, the isolate was attributed to the species<em> D. tertiolecta</em> and was named as <em>Dunaliella tertiolecta</em> ABRIINW-G3. https://jast.modares.ac.ir/article_15191_c7174a563613088e59471c70d9d2c09e.pdf